8_Kandersteg.jpg)
A class Ae 6/8 locomotive hauls a special train into Kandersteg at the beginning of the Belle Epoque Week.
This class entered service from 1926 onwards (loco number 208 in 1943) and remained in regular service until 1995.
[Jan 2015].
|
8_Kandersteg.jpg)
The heritage train stands in the snowy station.
The carriages had received the original dark green livery of the BLS.
[Jan 2015].
|
Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon: the abbreviation spelled out.
The BLS never owned the infrastructure from Bern to Thun or through the Simplon tunnel.
It only owned the central part of the transit axis.
From December 2016 BLS trains will again operate from Bern over the old Lötschberg mountain line and then
through the Simplon tunnel to Domodossola.
[Jan 2015].
|
8_Kandersteg.jpg)
The heritage train with class Ae 6/8 in Kandersteg.
In the background is the mountain range through which the Lötschberg tunnel was bored.
The prominent peak is the Gällihorn.
[Jan 2015].
|
On occasions the BLS uses the museum train Blaue Pfeil or Blue Arrow instead of more modern rolling stock
for regular services.
In that way additional passengers are attracted to some less frequented Regio trains.
The Blue Arrow has arrived in Spiez as a Regio service from Interlaken.
[Aug 2015].
|
The railway line Spiez-Interlaken Ost leaves the main Lötschberg line in Spiez.
From Spiez the line descends rapidly down to Lake Thun.
The first station on the line after Spiez is Faulensee, where I too a photo of the Blaue Pfeil
arriving at the platform.
[Aug 2015].
|
Near Därligen one can also often see the ships of Lake Thun from the train.
The steam ship Blümlisalp as seen through the window of the railcar Blaue Pfeil.
From behind the tree the motor ship Bubenberg emerges.
[Aug 2015].
|
This is the view from the window of the Blue Arrow back across the train. .
[Aug 2015].
|
Interlaken is a tourist town. The many hotels are evidence of this.
The Blaue Pfeil in Interlaken Ost with the Hotel du Lac in the background.
[Aug 2015].
|
The driving cab of the Blaue Pfeil.
There are no digital instruments here.
On the opposite railway line stands the ICE of German state railway Deutsche Bahn.
[Aug 2015].
|
4_Sumiswald-Gruenen.jpg)
In May 2025 the 150th anniversary of the Emmental Railway was celebrated.
In 1875 the lines between Burgdorf and Derendingen and Gümligen and Langnau were opened.
Here is railcar BDe 2/4 of the Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun Railway in Sumiswald-Grünen during the celebrations.
It now belongs to the Association of Historic Railways Emmental (VHE).
[May 2025].
|
4Sumiswald-Gruenen.jpg)
Railcar BDe 2/4 operated that weekend between Ramsei and Huttwil.
Between Sumiswald and Huttwil normally there is no passenger service any more.
Here the railcar awaits departure in Sumiswald-Grünen.
[May 2025].
|
4_Ramsei.jpg)
Railcar BDe2/4 has just arrived in Ramsei.
It was built in 1932 by SWS Schlieren, has a maximum spped of 80 km/h and 30 seats.
[May 2025].
|
4_Oberburg.jpg)
The BLS sent railcar Be 4/4 of Bern-Neuenburg-Bahn to the anniversary celebrations.
Because of its green livery it was generally known as budgerigar.
The railcar arrives in Oberburg.
[May 2025].
|
4_Oberburg.jpg)
Railcar Be 4/4 761 of the BN was built in 1953. It has a maximum spped of 120 km/h.
On the anniversary weekend it was used as a shuttle train between Burgdorf and the BLS depot in Oberburg.
[May 2025].
|
4_Hasle-Ruegsau.jpg)
Railcar BDe 4/4 201 owned by the Association Shuttle Train Mirage also participated in the anniversary celebrations.
This railcar was built in 1966 for the SOB, taken over by the Association in 2007 and was subsequently repainted and renumbered to recreate one of the same railcars that had operated for the EBT.
Here the train arrives in Hasle-Rüegsau.
[May 2025].
|
With windows wide open I enjoyed the ride through the Emmental during the anniversary celebrations.
[May 2025].
|
4_Oberburg.jpg)
The railcars were called Mirage, because they were delivered late and over budget just as the Swiss fighting jet aircraft that dominated the news at the time.
Here the train is in Oberburg.
[May 2025].
|
The BDe 4/4 railcars operated with a driving trailer as a push-pull unit.
The train at the anniversary celebrations had trailers in a somewhat lighter greener colour.
This is the driving trailer ABt 202.
[May 2025].
|
4_Ramsei.jpg)
Railcar BDe 4/4 201 arrives in Ramsei.
In the best Swiss tradition there were good connections between the special trains and they could nearly all be used with a special day pass.
[May 2025].
|
4_Hasle-Ruegsau.jpg)
The days of the Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun Railway were brought to life again.
Railcar BDe 4/4 201 passes flowering meadows near Hasle-Rüegsau.
[May 2025].
|
The two-unit trains with a RBDe 4/4 I railcar operated between Burgdorf and Konolfingen during the Emmental Railway anniversary celebrations.
Hier it arrives in Hasle-Rüegsau.
[May 2025].
|
This is the interior view of the driving cab of railcar RBDe 4/4 222.
The trains were built in 1973, had a maximum speed of 125 km/h and had 112 seats.
The railcar here is in Konolfingen.
[May 2025].
|
The Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun-Bahn (EBT) was merged into the Regionalverkehr Mittelland (RM) in 1997.
In 2006 BLS and RM merged to form the new BLS AG.
Railcar RBDe 4/4 I 222 was in service for the BLS until 2013.
Today it is once again in the colours of RM.
Here it is in Konolfingen.
[May 2025].
|
In 2024 the Association Shuttle Train Mirage took over a newer railcar and driving trailer from BLS AG.
These were built from 1984 onwards.
This RBDe 4/4 II railcar stands in Sumiswald-Grünen.
The plan is to return it to the EBT livery.
[May 2025].
|
Tem 225 056 is dual-power shunting tractor with a diesel motor and pantograph for electric operation.
It was delivered to the BLS in 1697 by SLM Winterthur and BBC Baden.
Here it is with a short train from Sumiswald-Grünen to Wasen im Emmental.
The train was so full, that we could not join it.
[May 2025].
|
There were also a few guest rail vehicles from further afield at the Emmental anniversary celebrations.
Railcar ABe 526 entered service in 1940 with the SOB.
Since 2001 it is owned by the Association Tunnel Cinema.
It normally operates through the Weissensteintunnel, but for the anniversary it was used through the tunnel near Sumiswald-Grünen.
[May 2025].
|
4_Sumiswald-Gruenen.jpg)
Another railcar came from Zürich.
Railcar BDe 4/4 92 of the Sihltalbahn now belongs to the Zürich Museum Railway.
It was built in 1968, has a maximum speed of 70 km/h and 48 seats.
Here it is in Sumiswald-Grünen.
[May 2025].
|
There were also a few steam locomotives at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Emmental Railway.
Ed 3/4 Nr 2 of the Solothurn-Münster-Bahn (SMB) is in the station of Sumiswald-Grünen with its train.
[May 2025].
|
Locomotive Nr 2 of the Solothurn-Münster-Bahn was built in 1907 by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Factory (SLM) in Winterthur.
It is 9 m long, has a maximum speed of 50 km/h and approximately 600 HP.
Here it is in Ramsei.
[May 2025].
|
The Solothurn-Münster-Bahn (SMB) merged 1997 with the EBT to form the Regionalverkehr Mittelland (RM).
Locomomtive Nr 2 of the SMB stands with its train in Ramsei and is about to depart for Huttwil.
Today it is owned by the Association Historic Railways Emmental (VHE)
[May 2025].
|
3_Konolfingen.jpg)
This locomotive was built in 1908 by SLM and delivered to the Bern Gasworks, where it was in service until 1968.
The City of Bern then purchased it and later gave it to the Dampfbahn Bern (Bern Steam Railway).
The loco is 8.45 m long, has a maximum speed of 45 km/h and power rating of approximately 500 HP.
Here the engine is with a train in Konolfingen station.
[May 2025].
|
The Bern-Schwarzenburg-Bahn operated the railway line between Bern and Scharzenburg.
It merged in 1944 to form the Gürbetal-Bern-Schwarzenburg-Bahn, which was then merged into the BLS in 1997.
Locomotive 51 of the BSB, however, already went to the BLS in 1928 and was sold to the cement works Holderbank in 1932.
The locomotive was delivered by SLM Winterthur to BSB in 1907.
Today it belongs to the Dampfbahn Bern (Bern Steam Railway).
[May 2025].
|
A special train with four small steam engines was operated as part of the anniversary celebrations.
These were Nr 853 of Jura-Simplon Railway, Nr 3 of the Emmental Railway, Nr 1 of the Gasworks Bern and Nr 51 der Bern-Schwarzenberg Railway.
Here is the train near Tägertschi.
[May 2025].
|
There was also a guest steam engine at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Emmental Railway.
Mikado 1244 was built in 1946 by the Montreal Locomotive Works in Canada for the French state railway SNCF.
It was sold in 1975 to Swiss railway enthusiasts, who are offering trips throughout Switzerland with this steam engine.
The depot of the Association Mikado 1244 is in Brugg.
The loco is in Lützelflüh-Goldbach crossing a Class 535 electric multiple unit of the BLS.
[May 2025].
|
8_Kandersteg.jpg)
A class Ae 6/8 locomotive hauls a special train into Kandersteg at the beginning of the Belle Epoque Week.
This class entered service from 1926 onwards (loco number 208 in 1943) and remained in regular service until 1995.
[Jan 2015].
8_Kandersteg.jpg)
The heritage train stands in the snowy station.
The carriages had received the original dark green livery of the BLS.
[Jan 2015].
Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon: the abbreviation spelled out.
The BLS never owned the infrastructure from Bern to Thun or through the Simplon tunnel.
It only owned the central part of the transit axis.
From December 2016 BLS trains will again operate from Bern over the old Lötschberg mountain line and then
through the Simplon tunnel to Domodossola.
[Jan 2015].
8_Kandersteg.jpg)
The heritage train with class Ae 6/8 in Kandersteg.
In the background is the mountain range through which the Lötschberg tunnel was bored.
The prominent peak is the Gällihorn.
[Jan 2015].
On occasions the BLS uses the museum train Blaue Pfeil or Blue Arrow instead of more modern rolling stock
for regular services.
In that way additional passengers are attracted to some less frequented Regio trains.
The Blue Arrow has arrived in Spiez as a Regio service from Interlaken.
[Aug 2015].
The railway line Spiez-Interlaken Ost leaves the main Lötschberg line in Spiez.
From Spiez the line descends rapidly down to Lake Thun.
The first station on the line after Spiez is Faulensee, where I too a photo of the Blaue Pfeil
arriving at the platform.
[Aug 2015].
Near Därligen one can also often see the ships of Lake Thun from the train.
The steam ship Blümlisalp as seen through the window of the railcar Blaue Pfeil.
From behind the tree the motor ship Bubenberg emerges.
[Aug 2015].
This is the view from the window of the Blue Arrow back across the train. .
[Aug 2015].
Interlaken is a tourist town. The many hotels are evidence of this.
The Blaue Pfeil in Interlaken Ost with the Hotel du Lac in the background.
[Aug 2015].
The driving cab of the Blaue Pfeil.
There are no digital instruments here.
On the opposite railway line stands the ICE of German state railway Deutsche Bahn.
[Aug 2015].
4_Sumiswald-Gruenen.jpg)
In May 2025 the 150th anniversary of the Emmental Railway was celebrated.
In 1875 the lines between Burgdorf and Derendingen and Gümligen and Langnau were opened.
Here is railcar BDe 2/4 of the Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun Railway in Sumiswald-Grünen during the celebrations.
It now belongs to the Association of Historic Railways Emmental (VHE).
[May 2025].
4Sumiswald-Gruenen.jpg)
Railcar BDe 2/4 operated that weekend between Ramsei and Huttwil.
Between Sumiswald and Huttwil normally there is no passenger service any more.
Here the railcar awaits departure in Sumiswald-Grünen.
[May 2025].
4_Ramsei.jpg)
Railcar BDe2/4 has just arrived in Ramsei.
It was built in 1932 by SWS Schlieren, has a maximum spped of 80 km/h and 30 seats.
[May 2025].
4_Oberburg.jpg)
The BLS sent railcar Be 4/4 of Bern-Neuenburg-Bahn to the anniversary celebrations.
Because of its green livery it was generally known as budgerigar.
The railcar arrives in Oberburg.
[May 2025].
4_Oberburg.jpg)
Railcar Be 4/4 761 of the BN was built in 1953. It has a maximum spped of 120 km/h.
On the anniversary weekend it was used as a shuttle train between Burgdorf and the BLS depot in Oberburg.
[May 2025].
4_Hasle-Ruegsau.jpg)
Railcar BDe 4/4 201 owned by the Association Shuttle Train Mirage also participated in the anniversary celebrations.
This railcar was built in 1966 for the SOB, taken over by the Association in 2007 and was subsequently repainted and renumbered to recreate one of the same railcars that had operated for the EBT.
Here the train arrives in Hasle-Rüegsau.
[May 2025].
With windows wide open I enjoyed the ride through the Emmental during the anniversary celebrations.
[May 2025].
4_Oberburg.jpg)
The railcars were called Mirage, because they were delivered late and over budget just as the Swiss fighting jet aircraft that dominated the news at the time.
Here the train is in Oberburg.
[May 2025].
The BDe 4/4 railcars operated with a driving trailer as a push-pull unit.
The train at the anniversary celebrations had trailers in a somewhat lighter greener colour.
This is the driving trailer ABt 202.
[May 2025].
4_Ramsei.jpg)
Railcar BDe 4/4 201 arrives in Ramsei.
In the best Swiss tradition there were good connections between the special trains and they could nearly all be used with a special day pass.
[May 2025].
4_Hasle-Ruegsau.jpg)
The days of the Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun Railway were brought to life again.
Railcar BDe 4/4 201 passes flowering meadows near Hasle-Rüegsau.
[May 2025].
The two-unit trains with a RBDe 4/4 I railcar operated between Burgdorf and Konolfingen during the Emmental Railway anniversary celebrations.
Hier it arrives in Hasle-Rüegsau.
[May 2025].
This is the interior view of the driving cab of railcar RBDe 4/4 222.
The trains were built in 1973, had a maximum speed of 125 km/h and had 112 seats.
The railcar here is in Konolfingen.
[May 2025].
The Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun-Bahn (EBT) was merged into the Regionalverkehr Mittelland (RM) in 1997.
In 2006 BLS and RM merged to form the new BLS AG.
Railcar RBDe 4/4 I 222 was in service for the BLS until 2013.
Today it is once again in the colours of RM.
Here it is in Konolfingen.
[May 2025].
In 2024 the Association Shuttle Train Mirage took over a newer railcar and driving trailer from BLS AG.
These were built from 1984 onwards.
This RBDe 4/4 II railcar stands in Sumiswald-Grünen.
The plan is to return it to the EBT livery.
[May 2025].
Tem 225 056 is dual-power shunting tractor with a diesel motor and pantograph for electric operation.
It was delivered to the BLS in 1697 by SLM Winterthur and BBC Baden.
Here it is with a short train from Sumiswald-Grünen to Wasen im Emmental.
The train was so full, that we could not join it.
[May 2025].
There were also a few guest rail vehicles from further afield at the Emmental anniversary celebrations.
Railcar ABe 526 entered service in 1940 with the SOB.
Since 2001 it is owned by the Association Tunnel Cinema.
It normally operates through the Weissensteintunnel, but for the anniversary it was used through the tunnel near Sumiswald-Grünen.
[May 2025].
4_Sumiswald-Gruenen.jpg)
Another railcar came from Zürich.
Railcar BDe 4/4 92 of the Sihltalbahn now belongs to the Zürich Museum Railway.
It was built in 1968, has a maximum speed of 70 km/h and 48 seats.
Here it is in Sumiswald-Grünen.
[May 2025].
There were also a few steam locomotives at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Emmental Railway.
Ed 3/4 Nr 2 of the Solothurn-Münster-Bahn (SMB) is in the station of Sumiswald-Grünen with its train.
[May 2025].
Locomotive Nr 2 of the Solothurn-Münster-Bahn was built in 1907 by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Factory (SLM) in Winterthur.
It is 9 m long, has a maximum speed of 50 km/h and approximately 600 HP.
Here it is in Ramsei.
[May 2025].
The Solothurn-Münster-Bahn (SMB) merged 1997 with the EBT to form the Regionalverkehr Mittelland (RM).
Locomomtive Nr 2 of the SMB stands with its train in Ramsei and is about to depart for Huttwil.
Today it is owned by the Association Historic Railways Emmental (VHE)
[May 2025].
3_Konolfingen.jpg)
This locomotive was built in 1908 by SLM and delivered to the Bern Gasworks, where it was in service until 1968.
The City of Bern then purchased it and later gave it to the Dampfbahn Bern (Bern Steam Railway).
The loco is 8.45 m long, has a maximum speed of 45 km/h and power rating of approximately 500 HP.
Here the engine is with a train in Konolfingen station.
[May 2025].
The Bern-Schwarzenburg-Bahn operated the railway line between Bern and Scharzenburg.
It merged in 1944 to form the Gürbetal-Bern-Schwarzenburg-Bahn, which was then merged into the BLS in 1997.
Locomotive 51 of the BSB, however, already went to the BLS in 1928 and was sold to the cement works Holderbank in 1932.
The locomotive was delivered by SLM Winterthur to BSB in 1907.
Today it belongs to the Dampfbahn Bern (Bern Steam Railway).
[May 2025].
A special train with four small steam engines was operated as part of the anniversary celebrations.
These were Nr 853 of Jura-Simplon Railway, Nr 3 of the Emmental Railway, Nr 1 of the Gasworks Bern and Nr 51 der Bern-Schwarzenberg Railway.
Here is the train near Tägertschi.
[May 2025].
There was also a guest steam engine at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Emmental Railway.
Mikado 1244 was built in 1946 by the Montreal Locomotive Works in Canada for the French state railway SNCF.
It was sold in 1975 to Swiss railway enthusiasts, who are offering trips throughout Switzerland with this steam engine.
The depot of the Association Mikado 1244 is in Brugg.
The loco is in Lützelflüh-Goldbach crossing a Class 535 electric multiple unit of the BLS.
[May 2025].